52 



On the Use of Lime. 



Vol. X. 



on which a vigorous vegetation is going on, 

 and it never fails of its extraordinary effects. 

 The plan of administering liquid manures 

 in a perfectly fresh state, is probably the 

 best of any, were it not for the continued 

 care and consequent expense necessary in 

 supplying our crops with saturated water in 

 all their stages throughout the year, and 

 were we certain of the exact strength of 

 the solution suited to their wants. 



As we, therefore, cannot apply our liquid 

 manures on the best principle, on accoimt of 

 the expense, we must try the next best plan, 

 that of decomposing them by the aid of de- 

 composed vegetable matter; and this can 

 happily be done, to great perfection, bj re- 

 ducing the vegetable matter to the state of 

 carbon or charcoal — which we make from 

 peat, as being trifling in expense, easily 

 pulverized, and withal an excellent manure 

 of itself. We divide a shed into two com- 

 partments, one of which we make water- 

 tight, by puddling the side walls with clay 

 to the height, say of two feet, and separated 

 from the other compartment by a low water- 

 tight wall or boarding. This is my ferment- 

 ing tank, which is filled half or three parts 

 full of pulverized burnt peat, and the liquid 

 manure from the stable, pig-styes, &c., di- 

 rected into it. This is mixed up with the 

 pulverized peat and allowed to remain three 

 or four weeks, till the decomposition seems 

 about completed, being occasionally stirred 

 about after the composition has become 

 about the consistency of gruel. The whole 

 is then ladled with a pole and bucket over 

 the low partition into the second floor, which 

 is also three parts filled with carbonized 

 peat; and as the second floor is meant 

 merely as a filter, we have it lower on one 

 side than the other, by which means, in the 

 course of a day or two, the carbonized peat 

 is left comparatively dry. The water hav- 

 ing passed off" at the lower side, the first or 

 fermenting floor is again filled as before, and 

 the contents of the second floor, if considered 

 saturated enough, are then shoveled up into 

 a corner, and allowed to drip, and further 

 dry till used, which may be either immedi- 

 ately, or at the end of twenty years, as 

 .scarcely anything will affect it, if not ex- 

 posed to the continued washing of pure 

 water, or exposed to the influence of the 

 roots of growing plants. By being thinly 

 spread on a granary floor it soon becomes 

 perfectly dry, and suited to pass through 

 drill machines. 



The mixing of the carbonized peat with 

 the liquid manure on the first or fermenting 

 floor, it will be observed, is for laying hold 

 of the gaseous matters as they escape during 

 the fermentation ; perhaps other substances 



may efl^ect this more eflfectually, but none 

 so cheaply. I think by this plan it will be 

 obvious to every one that a great many de- 

 siderata are at once obtained. In the first 

 place, you get free of about 956 parts out of 

 every 1,000 of the weight and bulk of ma- 

 nure, by the expulsion of the water; while 

 at the same time you link all the fertilizing 

 properties contained in it to one of the most 

 handy vehicles — light, cleanly, and portable, 

 and possessed of the peculiar property of 

 holding together the most volatile sub- 

 stances, till gradually called forth by the 

 exigencies of the growing plants. Lastly, 

 you get free of the nasty tank, and the 

 hogshead and the watering-cart, with all its 

 appendages, and are no more bothered with 

 overflowing tank or over-fermenting liquid, 

 with weather unsuited fo*" its application. 

 Yoa have merely to shovel past the satu- 

 rated charcoal, and shovel in a little fresh 

 stuffi and the process goes on again of its 

 own will; while the prepared stuffs lie 

 ready for all crops, all seasons and at all 

 times. 



The solid matter in the urine of the com^ 

 is estimated by very high authority, to be 

 equal in value to its weight of South Ame- 

 rican guano. 



I beg my fellow farmers clearly to under- 

 stand, that I make no pretensions to this 

 plan of applying liquid manure being a new 

 discovery. It is merely a modification of 

 your old and tried plan 6? bottoming your 

 dung-hills with peat; but by charring, the 

 peat is freed of its antiseptic qualities, and 

 thus becomes of itself a much better and 

 speedier manure, and an admirable filter. 

 But even peat, thoroughly dried and per- 

 fectly pulverized, I have no doubt might 

 answer the end indifferently well. — Inver- 

 ness Courier. 



Ou the Use of Lime. 



A correspondent in the .imerican Farmer makes 

 certain inquiries, to which Dr. Darlington gives the 

 foll(iV\ing reply.— Ed. 



The first inquiry is — "What effect would 

 be produced by the application of lime on 

 the surface of limestone lands'?" 



To this I may reply, that the farmers in 

 the limestone valley of Chester county, are 

 in the practice of applying lime freely on 

 their land, and find it productive of the best 

 effects, — especially in promoting the growth 

 of the valuable grasses. Its benefit to the 

 groin crops is not so striking; but, in agri- 

 culture, a good grass turf is of primary 

 importance — particularly in a grazing coun- 

 try, — and wherever there is such a turf, the 

 grain crops are rarely defective. It is re- 



